Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States
2023

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The world confronts an existential challenge in responding to climate change, resulting in an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the economy. What will it take for new and advanced nuclear reactors to play a role in decarbonization? Nuclear power provides a significant portion of the worlds low-carbon electricity, and advanced nuclear technologies have the potential to be smaller, safer, less expensive to build, and better integrated with the modern grid. However, if the United States wants advanced nuclear reactors to play a role in its plans for decarbonization, there are many key challenges that must be overcome at the technical, economic, and regulatory levels.

Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States discusses how the United States could support the successful commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors with a set of near-term policies and practices. The recommendations of this report address the need to close technology research gaps, explore new business use cases, improve project management and construction, update regulations and security requirements, prioritize community engagement, strengthen the skilled workforce, and develop competitive financing options.

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Publication information

252 pages · 8.5 x 11 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-69077-3
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-69078-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/26630

Suggested citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xiv
Summary 1-8
1 Introduction 9-21
2 Advanced Reactor Technologies 22-37
3 The Evolving Electricity System and the Potential Role of Advanced Nuclear Reactors 38-52
4 The Economic Challenge 53-72
5 Beyond Electricity: Nuclear Power's Potential to Play a Broader Role in the Future Energy System 73-90
6 The Challenge of Project Management and Construction 91-120
7 Nuclear Regulation in the United States 121-136
8 The Social Acceptance Challenge 137-156
9 Ensuring Security and Promoting Safeguards 157-169
10 Nuclear Exports and International Competition 170-186
Appendixes 187-188
Appendix A: Summary of Advanced Reactor Design Concepts 189-194
Appendix B: Examples of Technology Development Gaps for Advanced Reactors 195-197
Appendix C: Summary of Historical and Lessons-Learned Factors from the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear EnergyFunded Research and Development Programs in Support of Advanced Nuclear 198-201
Appendix D: The Current Role of Government in Demonstrations, with a Focus on the Department of Energy 202-206
Appendix E: Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Details 207-208
Appendix F: Acronyms and Abbreviations 209-211
Appendix G: Committee Member Biographical Information 212-217
Appendix H: Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest 218-219
Appendix I: Report Findings and Recommendations 220-233
Appendix J: Public Meetings 234-238

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Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States (2023)

Chapter: Appendixes

Appendixes